US, Australian Officials to Hold Meeting on Possible Collaborative Efforts on Defense

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and 2023 Wash100 awardee Heidi Shyu will meet with Australian defense officials in September to talk about collaboration opportunities.

Shyu, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, said during the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies for Defense conference on Aug. 29 that the upcoming meeting will delve into the details of possible partnerships between the United States and Australia regarding air and missile defense projects.

Shyu added that the U.S. Army and the Missile Defense Agency are interested in working with international partners in connecting sensors and shooters for air and missile defense capabilities in Guam.

The announcement comes amid the Australian Department of Defence’s efforts in building its Joint Air Battle Management System, C4ISRNET reported.

One area where the Army and the MDA want to see international collaboration is the Integrated Battle Command System, which is designed to provide air defense capabilities to warfighters.

IBCS, originally designed as a command-and-control center for the Army’s future air and missile defense system, will work with existing radars and launchers, as well as the anticipated Indirect Fire Protection Capability.